BY EMMANUEL ONYANGO
19th January 2013
The Chadema legislator (Iringa Urban) went further to include some foreigners and State House officials, saying they other entities engaged in the unlawful trade.
Quizzed by reporters in Dar es Salaam to name names, the opposition MP claimed his observations and findings were general.
On Msigwa’s remarks, the President’s Assistant Press Secretary Premmy Kibanga simply said: “You ask him (Msigwa) to point the name if any individual in State House, then we will be able to comment.”
The MP claimed research showed a quarter of elephant tusks and rhino horns impounded in various corners of the world originated from Tanzania.
Reliable sources within the county confirm about 23,000 elephants from various national parks in Tanzania are killed every year, he said.
He told a press conference that the number is equivalent to 67 elephants per day, adding that the trend threatened the species and endangered the national heritage.
“As MP for Iringa Urban Constituency, I have mandate in defending our natural resources and effectively curbing increased poaching, which takes place in the national parks,” he said.
He said there is a need to bring to Parliament the issue of the poaching network and urge the government to take stern measures against culprits.
The MP said he will present personal views on the issue during the tenth parliamentary session scheduled to start within a fortnight, on January 29.
Msigwa intends also to inform the Chairperson of the National Assembly to establish an independent probe committee to investigate the matter in depth to come up with clear solution.
He expressed optimism about the impact of such a committee because it would target any suspect regardless of their rank, working without fear to establish the truth.
Msigwa said he is confident fellow MPs, regardless of political affiliation would show great interest in the issue since it is their duty to protect the country’s wealth.
He revealed that last December 31 he submitted a letter to submit personal idea in parliament on continued acts of poaching “in our national parks.”
This, he added, was in line with the government’s obligation in defending country’s resources and people’s rights “to ensure their active participation in defending the country’s natural resources.”
He told the media that the Secretary of the National Assembly has advised him through a letter to submit personal views to the Chairperson of the Parliament Anna Makinda.
Msigwa’s observation adds input to the recent developments whereby police officers are alleged to be involved in the illegal business.
Last week two policemen from Biharamulo District, Kagera Region were arrested over possession of 17 pieces of elephant tusks.
On separate occasions elephant tusks have been imported in Asia with documents showing they were shipped from Tanzania.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
No comments :
Post a Comment